The report reveals many clubs' reliance on wealthy benefactors. In total, 65 per cent of clubs acknowledged a dependence on principal shareholders to to plug funding gaps compared with 58 per cent last year. For the Championship the figure is 94 per cent and for League One it is 64 per cent.

The survey shows that 28 per cent of Championship club owners and 36 per cent of League One club owners are considering a full or partial exit in the next 12 to 18 months. Keeping the club competitive on the pitch while financing operating losses behind the scenes is beginning to tell.

"Intense competition for promotion places has pushed the majority of Championship and League One clubs into the red," said Trevor Birch of accountancy firm BDO LLP, who commissioned the survey.

Most said that they would be able to meet the new regulations for the 2013-14 campaign but only 30 per cent were able to say that their clubs' finances were in a healthy state.

The findings revealed that 85 per cent of clubs expect to comply with the FFP rules in the 2013-14 season without any changes to their business models and further 10 per cent expect to meet the regulations following major upheavals of their financial plans.

The remaining 5 per cent will not meet the criteria for at least one further season.